CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The board for the Division for Higher Education and Schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) called for Congress to pass the U.S. Education Savings and School Excellence Act of 1999 at its meeting here March 12-14.
The board will encourage the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs -- the federal public policy advocacy office of the ELCA -- to advocate for passage of the act.
Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives bills would expand existing college education savings accounts by increasing the maximum allowable annual contribution from $500 to $2,000, and by allowing the accounts to be used not only for college costs, but also for expenses associated with kindergarten through 12th grade education in public, private, religious or home schools.
Although contributions to an education savings account would not be tax deductible, the interest that would accumulate would be tax free, and withdrawals would not be subject to taxation if used for qualified expenses, which include private school tuition.
John J. Scibilia, ELCA director for schools, said support for the proposal is strong. The 1998 Gallup annual poll of the "Public's Attitudes Toward Public Schools" found that 68 percent of all respondents and 74 percent of public school parents support the enactment of education savings accounts, he said.
Last month the ELCA joined public and non-public education associations and other denominations to encourage U.S. Congress to reauthorize Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA).
ESEA centered on two principles for providing services to students in public, private and religious schools. The first principle focused on "child benefit" -- to provide "special types" of assistance or services primarily for students in need and "only incidentally for the school they attended." The second principle focused on "public trustees" -- financial aid to be channeled through public authorities who would receive ESEA funds andwho, in turn, would act as accountable trustees on behalf of all the eligible children in their community, regardless of the type of school they attended.
The reauthorization of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act will require that public, private and religious school officials continue to work together to provide benefits to poor and "educationally disadvantaged" children; to remain consistent with the "child benefit" and "public trustee" principles; and to support local school districts financially with "the greatest number of poor and educationally-disadvantaged children" enrolled in public, private and religious schools.
"The ELCA supports a quality education for every child in every school," said Scibilia. "The church's work with children and youth is not done in isolation from neighborhoods and families. Title I ESEA is consistent with the ELCA's Initiative to 'Help the Children' as it provides assistance to children who are most in need and at risk."
"Help the Children" is one of the ELCA's "Initiatives to Prepare for a New Century." The Initiatives represent significant areas of the church's ministry. "Help the Children" works to advocate for the basic needs of children. Scibilia is member of that Initiative's leadership team.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
